Is it Legal For Me also included with Public Domain Information?
Not everybody is able to afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal natural resources. In law school we had access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty because you got out and started training. Many firms have much more the other, and I reckon that large firms may in order to both. Despite access to 1 of these, I discovered that I often find things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have statutes etc on-line these days. More and more are becoming available on a daily basis.
That’s where the book “Legal Research” obtainable. It provides to be able to follow common law library research methods to assist you answer your legal questions. System has sections for on-line research as well as info about law libraries for people that have in order to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Knowing Basics from the Law. Brief descriptions from the the law is, reasons for law, state versus federal law, and also the court system. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this is a good rewards.
Two: Finding Legal Websites. This chapter explains where legal facts are located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It includes Lexis and Westlaw, additionally other sites that have the freedom. I like the information and warnings through out the book as well. Good caution does not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to someone who had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known many laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know to be able to go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law extra flab to research, what resources will a person to with try not to to find, and finding out your legal research interrogation. This is important, you want to know what you’re really really in need of before planning searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Information. This chapter explores sources such the way resources (including a bit about deciding if reliable), self-help legal books, legal encyclopedias, form books, practice manuals, continuing legal education publications, law reviews, et cetera. Many lawyers will possess a lot in their kinds of resources, and you will find even more at legislation library. This chapter offers a brief an assessment what these sources are typically.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Components the bulk of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to obtain these resources and protect yourself with them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations along with rules and ordinances. Just about all these are vital depending on top of your particular trouble. This chapter is an honest introduction for this world of “laws” for people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. A lot of our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that already have been created the decision. These cases interpreted laws and currently employ the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is one of a famous case of which may be looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how to use citations to find cases, find cases on the internet, find cases each morning law archive.
Seven: Using Case Legislated rules. This chapter actually explains what an incident is, where did they are published, and how cases affect later quarrels. If you matter depends upon case law, this chapter will help you.
Eight: Validating Your Analysis. I pointed out the tip earlier, review chapter goes further in order to assist you retain all of your you have “good legal.” It teaches you the best way to Shepardize a Case, a process we lawyers use to create the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are searching make in a situation yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good policies.” These are the types of things lawyers know lots of laypeople do not ever.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to be able to. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is research. Once you find the information, will need to put that find in written form for things that asked you to find thought. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not as thorough even though the semester class most fresh law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to court and the court process and approximately a couple pages on finding and working with a lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is they lawyer improve by case studies and examples that this chapter provides a research problem, how find the facts, and then how to approach rare to research. It’s very short, the software will provide the non-lawyer just a little example of how to with the law and do finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here on page 255. The following 100 plus pages is a glossary, which a person would not need when they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually has a simple legal dictionary which will not replace “Black’s” but decent resource. There is a short appendix on topics also as an index.
Overall, I do think this book could be very valuable for the individual that wants or needs to do legal research but does not know where do you start. If you have to do-it-yourself, information can lead the way. It is a very good description of the legal research process for everyone without legislation degree.
